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How does massage help relieve pain?

Massage stimulates the body to release endorphins, which are natural pain-killing and mood-lifting substances. Endorphins are responsible for the "feel-good" factor; the "high" you feel after exercise, or a good laugh.

In labour, massage brings you close to the person who is caring for you: your midwife or your birth partner. The touch of someone who wants to help you can be very empowering when you're coping with contractions and are perhaps tired and frightened.

Massage is recommended by childbirth experts because it has been shown to ease pain and reduce anxiety in the first stage of labour (NCCWCH 2007: 94-5; Chang et al 2006; Chang et al 2002). It is also linked with shorter labours and a lower risk of postnatal depression (Simkin and O'Hara 2002).

Are massage oils a good idea?

Using oil makes massage easier to carry out and more pleasant to receive. However, be careful which oil you choose for labour.

Before buying or using an essential oil, consult a properly accredited aromatherapist to make sure you choose one that is safe for pregnancy and labour. Essential oils are extremely powerful substances and can interfere with contractions if used incorrectly. Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil or base oil.

Alternative medicine therapist and midwife Denise Tiran recommends diluting two drops of essential oil with a teaspoon (5ml) of base oil (Tiran 2000). Base oils include sweet almond and grapeseed. You might want to avoid sweet almond if you have a nut allergy or are worried about nut allergies.

Denise suggests lavender and clary sage essential oils to relax you and aid contractions. Other suitable oils for labour include jasmine, bergamot, chamomile, frankincense, mandarin, neroli, rose and ylang ylang (Tiran 2000). Or you can just use a base oil on its own.

Shoulder massage

During labour, keep your shoulders relaxed, as this will help you to breathe rhythmically. Massage can help you to relax your shoulders and breathe rhythmically. Your birth partner should place his hands on your shoulders and lean lightly on them. This will help you drop your shoulders if they are already hunched because you have become stressed. Next he can stroke down from your shoulders to your elbows, maintaining a rhythmical action and applying firm pressure. Tell him whether the massage is helping you and how he could make it better.

He could also try resting his hands on top of your shoulders and using his thumbs to massage in small firm circles behind your shoulder blades. Tell him if he is pressing too hard or not hard enough, or if he is massaging too quickly. It's important for him to avoid frantic massage as this serves only to speed up your breathing when the aim is to slow it down!

Back massage

Many women feel contractions strongly in their lower back, so back massage can be very useful.

In early labour, your partner can use the flat of his hand to stroke down the side of your spine, from shoulder to bottom. He then uses the other hand to stroke down the other side of your spine, maintaining a rhythmical movement, with one hand constantly in contact with you. These long, slow strokes can be very soothing. Make sure that he is massaging you using the whole of his hand and not just the heel. His fingers need to be in contact with your body as he tries to respond to the tensions he finds there.

In advanced labour, your birth partner can use the heel of his hand to massage firmly over the base of your spine. He will need to apply quite a lot of pressure to counteract strong contractions. Or he can use his thumbs to make circles over the dimples in your bottom. Tell him what you find most helpful.

Foot massage

Many people who say that they can't tolerate having their feet touched nonetheless enjoy firm, rhythmical foot massage. The massage does need to be firm, however, or it will be unbearably ticklish.

If you find yourself sitting down or in bed for long periods of your labour, foot massage is ideal. Your partner can simply stroke your feet firmly from ankle to toes, or make circles with his thumbs all over the soles of your feet. You may find that your feet become very cold in labour, and a foot massage will help to warm them up.

Hand massage

If you have had an epidural and are lying in bed, shoulder or back massage is difficult. And if you can't feel your feet, there's no point in your partner offering you a foot massage. In these circumstances, hand massage is very soothing.

Your birth partner can simply stroke each hand in turn, first on the back, then on the palm, sweeping firmly down from your wrist to your fingertips. He can make small circles all over your palm, and gently pull each finger in turn to release the tension. This is a lovely way of being close to each other and making your labour special.

What if I don't want a massage?

If your birth partner is keen to massage you in labour, he may be disappointed if you don't like it. However, some women simply cannot bear to be touched when they are having contractions. The contractions are so strong that even the slightest extra stimulus is more than they can cope with.

Other women find massage so helpful that they want their partners to keep rubbing their backs for hours on end! Birth partners need to be aware of these different reactions and respond accordingly.

Take our quiz

Standing up, sitting down or lying on your side - do you know the best position for labour? Find out by taking our quiz!

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